BOSSES at Brunner Mond described Vale Royal Borough Council's rejection of the urban village in November as 'a tragic missed opportunity'.

BOSSES at Brunner Mond described Vale Royal Borough Council's rejection of the urban village in November as 'a tragic missed opportunity'.

The soda ash company also warned that the decision would have a 'very severe' effect on Brunner Mond's investment programme.

At the time, Mark Chitty, Brunner Mond's director of corporate affairs, said: 'It would be tragic for the area if this ugly and derelict stretch of industrial land were to remain as it is when there is an imaginative plan to transform it into one of the most forward-looking developments in the North West.'

The applications, master plan and design brief were refused as the council:

* Was not satisfied that the highway improvements were capable of being delivered by the developer.

* Was not convinced that the urban village would not adversely impact on traffic generation in Northwich.

* Felt the applications should not be approved until the master plan for the regeneration of Northwich was published.

* Did not consider that all its requirements set out in the planning brief had been met.

* Had concerns about the impact on the urban village of possible future development on the lime beds at Winnington Avenue.